Gravity is commonly referred to as which term in flight dynamics?

• A. Mass
• B. Weight
• C. Pressure
• D. Acceleration

Answer: (B)

In flight dynamics, the downward pull of gravity is described as the aircraft’s weight—the gravitational force acting on the aircraft. This is the force that lift must counter and is calculated as weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity (W = m g). Mass is a property that doesn’t change with location, so it isn’t the term used for the pull of gravity. Pressure refers to a different kind of force acting over an area, not the gravitational pull on the whole aircraft. Acceleration describes how velocity changes over time, and while gravity does cause downward acceleration, the standard terminology for the gravitational effect on the aircraft is weight.